Life can be challenging for many of us, but more so for those who have been dealt a bad hand very early on in life – poverty, a learning disability, the lack of positive role models, and a lack of educational opportunities – the journey can be demanding.

Sometimes, the pivotal factor that can enable someone to break through these challenging circumstances and reach their potential is a helping hand – a gesture of support that offers them a shot at success.

Celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2024, Sunway has always believed that corporations exist not merely for profits but for the good of society. Driven by the aspiration of sustainable development, Sunway remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the race of life.

Be it in education, healthcare or community enrichment, Sunway’s CSR initiatives under the #SunwayforGood banner helps alleviate the hardships faced by Malaysian youths, by providing them golden tickets to success – valuable opportunities through education and entrepreneurship.

Easing the Pathway to Higher Education

Over the past decade, the Sunway-Oxbridge Essay Competition – Malaysia’s longest running and most coveted national-level English essay competition – has challenged national secondary school students across Malaysia to write essays detailing their ideas and aspirations for a better Malaysia.

Organised by Sunway Education Group, the Oxford & Cambridge Society Malaysia and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF) with support from Sunway Super App, the annual competition provides a platform for youths to showcase their critical thinking and proficiency of the English language to critically dissect current affairs.

Besides addressing the challenges of learning English in the national school curriculum and to improve English-speaking proficiency, the competition also provides a financial boost for students to further their education at Sunway.

In 2024, a total of RM140,000 worth of Sunway Bursaries and RM25,000 in cash prizes were awarded to the top 20 winners.

JCF also offers scholarships such as JCF Community Scholarship specifically for youths from children welfare homes, NGOs or underprivileged communities, so that they could pursue their tertiary education at Sunway College or Sunway University.

Other JCF scholarships and grants such as the Jeffrey Cheah Travel Grants for Southeast Asia Studies at Harvard, sponsor scholars and practitioners on Southeast Asia studies from Sunway Education Group to travel to Harvard University to present lectures and conduct research.

This offers Malaysians the opportunity to learn from the brightest minds at one of the world’s pre-eminent universities, as well as strengthens Malaysia as a centre for educational and research excellence in the study of Southeast Asia.

Fostering Entrepreneurship and Financial Independence

When it comes to pursuing education and eventual employment, individuals with learning disabilities often face many closed doors as they find it difficult to read, write, memorise or stay focused in class.

Being learning disabled also means being unable to understand social cues, and thus face difficulty maintaining friendships, relationships and employment.

Recognising the challenges of the learning disabled, Sunway has been collaborating with a non-profit organisation, Generating Opportunities for Learning Disables (GOLD) to organise the Sunway Job Training Programmes.

Endorsed by the Malaysian Education Ministry’s Education and Performance Delivery Unit (PADU), the programme provides hands-on prevocational and life skills training, simulating working habits with mentoring from the job coaches within Sunway business divisions.

Under the programme, GOLD trainees work in areas such as baking and pastry, office and general housekeeping, culinary kitchen, and ticketing at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway Pyramid, Sunway University, Sunway Lagoon Theme Park and Sunway Resort Hotel.

As of 2024, 218 trainees have secured employment, with 16 of them attaining full time roles in GOLD.

One such graduate is Angie Lim, who is currently the trade kitchen supervisor and head baker of GOLD.

Once timid and lacking in self-confidence when she first joined GOLD in 2011, Lim now oversees the production of cookies sold by GOLD – the social enterprise’s primary source of income.

“With the skills I learnt, I am now able to work independently with minimal supervision at GOLD. I enjoy being able to go to work like my siblings, baking cookies that are needed by others and spending time with my friends who work with me,” said Lim.